Online colleges and online education more generally have seen an enormous increase in student e-learners over the last decade. Ten years ago, America saw around 2 million higher education students learning online. That number has now almost quadrupled.
According to a 2015 report by Babson Research titled Tracking Online Education in the United States, today the number of college students learning online exceeds 7 million. With the overall higher education student body in the U.S. currently at 21 million, that means one out of three college students is taking at least one course entirely online.
It’s therefore no surprise that online colleges and universities, which focus on delivering course content exclusively online, have proliferated. These schools enable students to finish a degree program and graduate with little more than a laptop and internet connection.
Nonetheless, online colleges and universities differ widely in quality. Moreover, with increasing competition for online students, many campus-based schools are now getting into the mix and offering online degrees. For this reason, rankings of online colleges and universities need to be entularly updated. Hence this ranking of the top 50 online colleges for 2016.
Although online education gives students unrivaled flexibility in pursuing a degree program, it is not right for everyone. Online education requires self-discipline and a set of study skills that some students on first attending college may lack. For this reason, we have supplemented this ranking with our highly informative “Savvy Student’s Guide to Online Colleges and Online Education” (located below right after our ranking).
Together, our ranking of the 50 best online colleges and universities for 2016 as well as our student guide to online colleges and online education provide the most comprehensive resource available on the web for helping prospective students determine whether online education is right for them and, if so, deciding which online college is best for them.
This ranking of the best online colleges and universities is based on extensive research and familiarity with American online education. In formulating this ranking, we looked to such factors as academic excellence, scholarly strength of faculty, online teaching methods, tuition costs, reputation, awards, financial aid, and range of degree programs offered.
best-online-college-2016This ranking of the best online colleges and universities, along with the supplemental student guide at the end, is meant to help you, the prospective student, make wise choices about your online education. This ranking identifies colleges and universities offering a high-quality online education. Note that traditional campus-based schools appear here only if they offer an extensive and robust array of online degree programs.
Penn State World Campus
Launched in 1998, Penn State World Campus is the online campus of the highly respected Pennsylvania State University.
Penn State World Campus offers has an impressive list of online programs, with more than 120 online programs leading to a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificate programs.
Penn State World Campus’s online offerings include degrees in fields such as technology, engineering, education, healthcare, business, and more.
Penn State World Campus enrolls more than 10,000 students. After the initial acceptance into the World Campus, students must receive acceptance into the appropriate college for their chosen major at Pennsylvania State University.
Online students receive instruction from the same world-class faculty members as on-campus students. Online students have access to academic advisers, career services, online tutoring, and library services.
World Campus offers courses in an asynchronous format, so students can complete coursework on their schedule. Students must complete readings, assignments, discussions, and exams by set deadlines. Some of Penn State World Campus’s graduate degree programs require a residency period of from a few days to two weeks in length.
Penn State World Campus graduates earn the same degree as traditional Penn State students. Graduates can join the largest alumni network in the United States.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus as a research university with very high research activity.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Pennsylvania State University-University Park #48 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked the university #52 in its listing of Best Global Universities, #41 in its Best Business Schools list, and #33 in the Best Education Schools list. Penn State also tied for #14 in the magazine’s Top Public Schools list.
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) ranked Pennsylvania State University-University Park #58. The university also received a #58 ranking from Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
Princeton Review included Pennsylvania State University-University Park in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list, while Forbes ranked Penn State #76 among Research Universities.
Penn State’s Smeal College of Business ranked #30 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list.
A member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), Pennsylvania State University received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business also received accreditation from the respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
University of Florida Distance Learning
The University of Florida, a public, sea-grant, space-grant, and land-grant research university established in 1853, enrolls more than 49,900 students. Consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States, the University of Florida offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
A member of the State University System of Florida, the university has 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. The University of Florida has a membership in the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities).
Recognized for providing high-value education to students, the University of Florida offers a variety of online programs leading to bachelor, bachelor completion, master, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The university also offers a handful of international degree programs.
Undergraduate and graduate degree topics include environmental management in agriculture and natural resources, health education, biology, entomology, industrial and systems engineering, and Latin. Students also can pursue doctoral degrees in education, audiology, philosophy, classical studies, nursing practice, and pharmacy.
Applicants must meet the university’s general admission requirements and those specified by the degree program.
Distance learning students can access a variety of support services, such as an online course management system, library resources, career services, and an online registration system. University of Florida Distance Learning graduates can join an alumni network of more than 300,000 worldwide.
The University of Florida is one of the largest research universities in the nation. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the University of Florida as a research university with very high research activity. The university is one of the leading universities in the United States in acquiring patents for research. Researchers at the University of Florida invented Gatorade.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Florida #48 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The university tied for #14 among Top Public Schools and #53 among Best Global Universities in the magazine’s listings. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the University of Florida #41 in Best Business Schools and #30 in Best Education Schools.
The University of Florida ranked #78 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University). In addition, the University of Florida ranked #126 in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
Bloomberg Business ranked the University of Florida Warrington College of Business Administration #44 among Undergraduate Business School Programs, while Forbes ranked the University of Florida #42 in Research Universities.
Princeton Review included the University of Florida in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The University of Florida received accreditation from the respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
UMass Online
The University of Massachusetts, a public university system established in 1863, enrolls about 71,000 students across five campuses. The University of Massachusetts consists of four universities, a satellite campus, and a medical school.
UMass Online, the online consortium of the highly respected University of Massachusetts system, offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs.
UMass Online’s degree offerings include an associate’s degree in information technology and more than 30 bachelor’s degree programs, including degree completion programs in topics such as nursing, applied psychology, criminal justice, and more.
The university also offers nearly 40 master’s degree programs in topics including gerontology, security studies, and vision studies; a doctoral degree in nursing practice; and dozens of certificate programs.
Online students receive instruction from the same faculty, earn the same degrees, and attend the same graduation ceremony as on-campus students. UMass Online students have access to a host of services, such as library help, fellowship advising, and academic counseling.
UMass Online received the Excellence in Distance Teaching Education award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognized University of Massachusetts-Amherst as a research university with very high research activity and recognized University of Massachusetts-Boston and University of Massachusetts-Lowell as research universities with high research activity.
UMass has a reputation for high-level research in numerous fields, such as nanotechnology, bioinformatics, renewable energy, remote sensing, vaccine development, and chemistry.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Massachusetts-Amherst #76 in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities. The magazine also ranked UMass #115 in Best Global Universities and #42 in Best Education Schools. UMass also tied for #30 among Top Public Schools.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst ranked 101–150 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University).
Times Higher Education listed UMass #91 in its World University Rankings 2014–2015. In addition, Forbes ranked UMass #100 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included University of Massachusetts-Amherst in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management ranked #36 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provides accreditation to the University of Massachusetts branches in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell. The University of Massachusetts also holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Boston University
Boston University, a nonsectarian, private research university established in 1839, enrolls about 33,000 students across 18 colleges and schools. Boston University, one of the largest independent, non-profit universities in the United States, boasts more than 250,000 alumni worldwide. Boston University operates one of the strongest private research programs in the United States.
The university offers a variety of bachelor, master, doctoral, and professional degrees. Boston University offers a host of online undergraduate courses, as well as a variety of online degree programs such as an online bachelor’s degree completion program; nine master’s degree programs, including management, taxation law, and art education; and doctoral programs in music education and occupational therapy. The university also offers more than a dozen certificate programs.
Boston University’s online students have access to a variety of services, including library resources, career services, and tutoring.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Boston University as a research university with very high research activity.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Boston University #42 among National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. Boston University also tied for #37 in the magazine’s list of Best Global Universities. The magazine also ranked Boston University #45 among Best Business Schools and #51 among Best Education Schools.
Boston University’s School of Management earned a 25th-place ranking in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list.
Forbes ranked the university #43 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included Boston University in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) ranked Boston University #72. In addition, Boston University ranked #57 in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
A member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), Boston University holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Boston University’s School of Management holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Northeastern University
Northeastern University, a private, non-profit research university established in 1898, enrolls about 20,000 students across nine colleges and schools, as well as graduate campuses in North Carolina and Washington State.
Northeastern University offers nearly 200 programs leading to a variety of undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degrees. The university is a leader in cooperative education and other types of experimental learning.
Northeastern University’s offerings include more than 60 online degree programs, which give students the flexibility to earn their degree on their own schedule.
Northeastern University’s online programs include nearly 20 bachelor’s degrees in English, finance, and political science; more than two dozen master’s degrees, including taxation, respiratory care, leadership, and homeland security; and doctoral degrees in education and transitional physical therapy. The university also offers more than 20 certificate programs in a range of topics.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Northeastern University as a research university with high research activity. Northeastern University has over 30 federally funded research centers.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Northeastern University #42 in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities, as well as #52 in its Best Business School list. Northeastern University also tied for #224 in the magazine’s list of Best Global Universities.
Northeastern University ranked #185 in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015. Forbes ranked the university #95 in Research Universities. Princeton Review also included Northeastern University in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
Northeastern University holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business also holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Indiana University, IU Online
Indiana University, a public university system founded in 1820, enrolls more than 110,000 students across nine campuses and two centers. Indiana University, a member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), offers a host of degree programs and boasts more than 580,000 alumni. Indiana University-Bloomington attracts students from all over the world.
Through IU Online, Indiana University offers hundreds of online classes and more than 100 degree programs.
Students can pursue a variety of associate and bachelor degree programs, including nine degree completion programs such as business administration, mathematics, political science, and nursing.
IU Online also offers more than two dozen online master degree programs ranging from strategic management to social work to data science and more. Students also can earn doctoral degrees in instructional systems technology, nursing practice, and nursing science. Online students also can choose from a variety of certificate programs.
IU Online students have access to libraries and technology resources.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Indiana University-Bloomington as a research university with very high research activity. The university provides world-class contributions in research.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Indiana University #76 in National Universities in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Indiana University #21 in Best Business Schools and #25 in Best Education Schools. Indiana University also tied for #30 in the magazine’s list of Top Public Schools and ranked #115 among Best Global Universities.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014, provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ranked Indiana University-Bloomington 101–150. In addition, the university ranked #150 in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
Forbes ranked Indiana University #47 in Research Universities. Princeton Review listed Indiana University-Bloomington among the 2015 Best 379 Colleges, while the university’s Kelly School of Business ranked #8 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provided accreditation to Indiana University, Bloomington-Indianapolis. Indiana University also holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Arizona State University, ASU Online
Arizona State University (ASU), a public research university founded in 1885, is the largest public university in the United States by enrollment. ASU enrolls nearly 100,000 students across 16 colleges and schools. Arizona State University offers a variety of bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. ASU is one of the world’s top universities for business incubation.
The university provides an array of highly ranked graduate programs. Arizona State University offers about 90 undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs, as well as more than a dozen certificate programs through ASU Online. ASU Online’s degree offerings include bachelor’s degrees in art history, business, film, and justice studies. The university also offers master’s degrees in legal studies, nutrition, English, electrical engineering, and more.
Students also can pursue doctoral degrees in behavioral health and leadership and innovation.
ASU Online students have access to enrollment counselors, academic advisers, and success coaches. ASU Online offers six start dates each year.
Online students have flexibility to complete coursework on their own schedule. Some ASU Online courses require specific log-on times, and most have set assignments and deadlines.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Arizona State University as a research university with very high research activity. ASU consistently ranks among the top 20 universities, which don’t have a traditional medical school, for research expenditures.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Arizona State University-Tempe #129 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. Arizona State University also tied for #63 in Top Public Schools and #143 in Best Global Universities. The magazine also listed Arizona State #27 in Best Business Schools.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) ranked Arizona State University #88. Times Higher Education listed Arizona State University #182 in its World University Rankings 2014–2015, while Forbes ranked the university #140 among Research Universities.
Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business ranked #92 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list. Princeton Review included Arizona State University in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provides accreditation to Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. Arizona State University also holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Florida State University, Office of Distance Learning
Florida State University (FSU), a sea-grant and space-grant public research university founded in 1851, consists of 16 colleges and more than 100 facilities, centers, facilities, and labs. Florida State University, known for its nationally ranked academic programs, enrolls about 42,000 students in more than 300 programs of study leading to a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.
All the colleges and schools provide graduate degrees. FSU provides combined BA/MA programs. FSU has strong foundations in the sciences, with meteorology, biology, and chemistry ranked among the school’s best programs.
Through the Office of Distance Learning, FSU offers online degrees with courses which follow a semester schedule. Florida State University’s online undergraduate degree programs require students to have completed 60 or more semester hours of transferable credit, including all liberal arts requirements.
Florida State University offers bachelor’s degrees in public safety and security, computer science, criminology, and interdisciplinary social science; nearly 20 master’s degrees such as business administration, communication disorders, criminology, educational leadership/administration, and nurse educator; post-master’s degree programs in educational leadership/administration, and library and information systems; and numerous certificate programs.
FSU offers most online courses in an asynchronous format.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Florida State University as a research university with very high research activity. FSU has over 50 prominent research centers and institutes.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida State University #95 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Florida State #39 in Best Education Schools and #172 in Best Global Universities. Florida State University also tied for #43 in Top Public Schools.
Bloomberg Business ranked Florida State University’s College of Business #85 in its 2014 list of Undergraduate Business School Programs. Forbes ranked Florida State #102 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included FSU among the 2015 Best 379 Colleges.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provided accreditation to Florida State University’s College of Business. Florida State University also holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Drexel University, Drexel Online
Drexel University, a private research university founded in 1891, offers nearly 200 programs leading to a variety of undergraduate, graduate (including doctoral), and professional degrees. Drexel University enrolls about 25,500 students across more than a dozen colleges and schools. Drexel University has one of the nation’s largest cooperative education programs.
Drexel University Online awards nine bachelor’s degrees in business administration, criminology, computing and security technology, and psychology; and about 60 master’s degree programs ranging from communication to systems engineering to cybersecurity.
Drexel Online also offers about 80 certificate programs, as well as doctoral programs in educational leadership and management, health science in rehabilitation sciences, and nursing practice. Drexel University offers some of its degree programs in an accelerated format.
Online students receive instruction from the same faculty and earn the same degrees as on-campus students. Drexel University received the Sloan-C Award for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Drexel University as a research university with high research activity. Drexel University has over $110 million in yearly expenditures for sponsored research projects. The university has traditional research strength in biotechnology, information science, basic science, engineering, and business.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Drexel University #95 in National Universities in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Drexel University #169 in Best Education Schools and #396 in Best Global Universities.
Bloomberg Business ranked Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business #106 among 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs. Forbes ranked Drexel University #129 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included Drexel in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The respected Association of Advance College Schools of Business provides accreditation to Drexel University’s Breech School of Business Administration and Economics. Drexel University also holds accreditation from the Middle State Commission on Higher Education.
Oregon State University, OSU Ecampus
Oregon State University (OSU), a public research university, founded in 1868, enrolls more than 30,000 students across a dozen colleges and a graduate school. OSU, a prominent research school, has nationally recognized programs in areas such as agricultural sciences, forestry, fisheries, community health, pharmacy, and wildlife management.
OSU is one of only six educational institutions in the United States with a land-grant, space-grant, and sea-grant designations. OSU also has a sun-grant designation.
Oregon State University, which offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs, is home to the internationally renowned Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology.
Oregon State University offers more than 900 online courses and a host of degree programs through OSU Ecampus. The university’s online offerings include nearly 20 bachelor’s degrees in topics ranging from anthropology to German to sustainability; nine master’s degrees such as executive leadership, counseling, and natural resources; and doctoral degrees in education and counseling. The university also offers certificate programs, as well as chemistry and foreign language courses.
OSU Ecampus allows students to access course materials on their schedule and earn the same degree as on-campus students. Online students have access to a host of student services such as library resources, career services, 24/7 tutoring help, and counseling services.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Oregon State University as a research university with very high research activity.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Oregon State University #138 in National Universities in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Oregon State University #106 in Best Education Schools, while the university tied for #70 in Top Public Schools and #250 in Best Global Universities.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University), ranked Oregon State University 151–200. In addition, Forbes ranked Oregon State University #128 in Research Universities.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provides accreditation to Oregon State University’s College of Business. Oregon State University also holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
According to a 2015 report by Babson Research titled Tracking Online Education in the United States, today the number of college students learning online exceeds 7 million. With the overall higher education student body in the U.S. currently at 21 million, that means one out of three college students is taking at least one course entirely online.
It’s therefore no surprise that online colleges and universities, which focus on delivering course content exclusively online, have proliferated. These schools enable students to finish a degree program and graduate with little more than a laptop and internet connection.
Nonetheless, online colleges and universities differ widely in quality. Moreover, with increasing competition for online students, many campus-based schools are now getting into the mix and offering online degrees. For this reason, rankings of online colleges and universities need to be entularly updated. Hence this ranking of the top 50 online colleges for 2016.
Although online education gives students unrivaled flexibility in pursuing a degree program, it is not right for everyone. Online education requires self-discipline and a set of study skills that some students on first attending college may lack. For this reason, we have supplemented this ranking with our highly informative “Savvy Student’s Guide to Online Colleges and Online Education” (located below right after our ranking).
Together, our ranking of the 50 best online colleges and universities for 2016 as well as our student guide to online colleges and online education provide the most comprehensive resource available on the web for helping prospective students determine whether online education is right for them and, if so, deciding which online college is best for them.
This ranking of the best online colleges and universities is based on extensive research and familiarity with American online education. In formulating this ranking, we looked to such factors as academic excellence, scholarly strength of faculty, online teaching methods, tuition costs, reputation, awards, financial aid, and range of degree programs offered.
best-online-college-2016This ranking of the best online colleges and universities, along with the supplemental student guide at the end, is meant to help you, the prospective student, make wise choices about your online education. This ranking identifies colleges and universities offering a high-quality online education. Note that traditional campus-based schools appear here only if they offer an extensive and robust array of online degree programs.
Penn State World Campus
Launched in 1998, Penn State World Campus is the online campus of the highly respected Pennsylvania State University.
Penn State World Campus offers has an impressive list of online programs, with more than 120 online programs leading to a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificate programs.
Penn State World Campus’s online offerings include degrees in fields such as technology, engineering, education, healthcare, business, and more.
Penn State World Campus enrolls more than 10,000 students. After the initial acceptance into the World Campus, students must receive acceptance into the appropriate college for their chosen major at Pennsylvania State University.
Online students receive instruction from the same world-class faculty members as on-campus students. Online students have access to academic advisers, career services, online tutoring, and library services.
World Campus offers courses in an asynchronous format, so students can complete coursework on their schedule. Students must complete readings, assignments, discussions, and exams by set deadlines. Some of Penn State World Campus’s graduate degree programs require a residency period of from a few days to two weeks in length.
Penn State World Campus graduates earn the same degree as traditional Penn State students. Graduates can join the largest alumni network in the United States.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus as a research university with very high research activity.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Pennsylvania State University-University Park #48 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked the university #52 in its listing of Best Global Universities, #41 in its Best Business Schools list, and #33 in the Best Education Schools list. Penn State also tied for #14 in the magazine’s Top Public Schools list.
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) ranked Pennsylvania State University-University Park #58. The university also received a #58 ranking from Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
Princeton Review included Pennsylvania State University-University Park in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list, while Forbes ranked Penn State #76 among Research Universities.
Penn State’s Smeal College of Business ranked #30 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list.
A member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), Pennsylvania State University received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business also received accreditation from the respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
University of Florida Distance Learning
A member of the State University System of Florida, the university has 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. The University of Florida has a membership in the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities).
Recognized for providing high-value education to students, the University of Florida offers a variety of online programs leading to bachelor, bachelor completion, master, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The university also offers a handful of international degree programs.
Undergraduate and graduate degree topics include environmental management in agriculture and natural resources, health education, biology, entomology, industrial and systems engineering, and Latin. Students also can pursue doctoral degrees in education, audiology, philosophy, classical studies, nursing practice, and pharmacy.
Applicants must meet the university’s general admission requirements and those specified by the degree program.
Distance learning students can access a variety of support services, such as an online course management system, library resources, career services, and an online registration system. University of Florida Distance Learning graduates can join an alumni network of more than 300,000 worldwide.
The University of Florida is one of the largest research universities in the nation. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the University of Florida as a research university with very high research activity. The university is one of the leading universities in the United States in acquiring patents for research. Researchers at the University of Florida invented Gatorade.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Florida #48 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The university tied for #14 among Top Public Schools and #53 among Best Global Universities in the magazine’s listings. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the University of Florida #41 in Best Business Schools and #30 in Best Education Schools.
The University of Florida ranked #78 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University). In addition, the University of Florida ranked #126 in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
Bloomberg Business ranked the University of Florida Warrington College of Business Administration #44 among Undergraduate Business School Programs, while Forbes ranked the University of Florida #42 in Research Universities.
Princeton Review included the University of Florida in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The University of Florida received accreditation from the respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
UMass Online
The University of Massachusetts, a public university system established in 1863, enrolls about 71,000 students across five campuses. The University of Massachusetts consists of four universities, a satellite campus, and a medical school.
UMass Online, the online consortium of the highly respected University of Massachusetts system, offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs.
UMass Online’s degree offerings include an associate’s degree in information technology and more than 30 bachelor’s degree programs, including degree completion programs in topics such as nursing, applied psychology, criminal justice, and more.
The university also offers nearly 40 master’s degree programs in topics including gerontology, security studies, and vision studies; a doctoral degree in nursing practice; and dozens of certificate programs.
Online students receive instruction from the same faculty, earn the same degrees, and attend the same graduation ceremony as on-campus students. UMass Online students have access to a host of services, such as library help, fellowship advising, and academic counseling.
UMass Online received the Excellence in Distance Teaching Education award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognized University of Massachusetts-Amherst as a research university with very high research activity and recognized University of Massachusetts-Boston and University of Massachusetts-Lowell as research universities with high research activity.
UMass has a reputation for high-level research in numerous fields, such as nanotechnology, bioinformatics, renewable energy, remote sensing, vaccine development, and chemistry.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Massachusetts-Amherst #76 in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities. The magazine also ranked UMass #115 in Best Global Universities and #42 in Best Education Schools. UMass also tied for #30 among Top Public Schools.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst ranked 101–150 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University).
Times Higher Education listed UMass #91 in its World University Rankings 2014–2015. In addition, Forbes ranked UMass #100 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included University of Massachusetts-Amherst in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management ranked #36 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provides accreditation to the University of Massachusetts branches in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell. The University of Massachusetts also holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Boston University
Boston University, a nonsectarian, private research university established in 1839, enrolls about 33,000 students across 18 colleges and schools. Boston University, one of the largest independent, non-profit universities in the United States, boasts more than 250,000 alumni worldwide. Boston University operates one of the strongest private research programs in the United States.
The university offers a variety of bachelor, master, doctoral, and professional degrees. Boston University offers a host of online undergraduate courses, as well as a variety of online degree programs such as an online bachelor’s degree completion program; nine master’s degree programs, including management, taxation law, and art education; and doctoral programs in music education and occupational therapy. The university also offers more than a dozen certificate programs.
Boston University’s online students have access to a variety of services, including library resources, career services, and tutoring.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Boston University as a research university with very high research activity.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Boston University #42 among National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. Boston University also tied for #37 in the magazine’s list of Best Global Universities. The magazine also ranked Boston University #45 among Best Business Schools and #51 among Best Education Schools.
Boston University’s School of Management earned a 25th-place ranking in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list.
Forbes ranked the university #43 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included Boston University in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) ranked Boston University #72. In addition, Boston University ranked #57 in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
A member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), Boston University holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Boston University’s School of Management holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Northeastern University
Northeastern University, a private, non-profit research university established in 1898, enrolls about 20,000 students across nine colleges and schools, as well as graduate campuses in North Carolina and Washington State.
Northeastern University offers nearly 200 programs leading to a variety of undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degrees. The university is a leader in cooperative education and other types of experimental learning.
Northeastern University’s offerings include more than 60 online degree programs, which give students the flexibility to earn their degree on their own schedule.
Northeastern University’s online programs include nearly 20 bachelor’s degrees in English, finance, and political science; more than two dozen master’s degrees, including taxation, respiratory care, leadership, and homeland security; and doctoral degrees in education and transitional physical therapy. The university also offers more than 20 certificate programs in a range of topics.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Northeastern University as a research university with high research activity. Northeastern University has over 30 federally funded research centers.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Northeastern University #42 in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities, as well as #52 in its Best Business School list. Northeastern University also tied for #224 in the magazine’s list of Best Global Universities.
Northeastern University ranked #185 in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015. Forbes ranked the university #95 in Research Universities. Princeton Review also included Northeastern University in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
Northeastern University holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business also holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Indiana University, IU Online
Indiana University, a public university system founded in 1820, enrolls more than 110,000 students across nine campuses and two centers. Indiana University, a member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), offers a host of degree programs and boasts more than 580,000 alumni. Indiana University-Bloomington attracts students from all over the world.
Through IU Online, Indiana University offers hundreds of online classes and more than 100 degree programs.
Students can pursue a variety of associate and bachelor degree programs, including nine degree completion programs such as business administration, mathematics, political science, and nursing.
IU Online also offers more than two dozen online master degree programs ranging from strategic management to social work to data science and more. Students also can earn doctoral degrees in instructional systems technology, nursing practice, and nursing science. Online students also can choose from a variety of certificate programs.
IU Online students have access to libraries and technology resources.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Indiana University-Bloomington as a research university with very high research activity. The university provides world-class contributions in research.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Indiana University #76 in National Universities in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Indiana University #21 in Best Business Schools and #25 in Best Education Schools. Indiana University also tied for #30 in the magazine’s list of Top Public Schools and ranked #115 among Best Global Universities.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014, provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ranked Indiana University-Bloomington 101–150. In addition, the university ranked #150 in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2014–2015.
Forbes ranked Indiana University #47 in Research Universities. Princeton Review listed Indiana University-Bloomington among the 2015 Best 379 Colleges, while the university’s Kelly School of Business ranked #8 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provided accreditation to Indiana University, Bloomington-Indianapolis. Indiana University also holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Arizona State University, ASU Online
Arizona State University (ASU), a public research university founded in 1885, is the largest public university in the United States by enrollment. ASU enrolls nearly 100,000 students across 16 colleges and schools. Arizona State University offers a variety of bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. ASU is one of the world’s top universities for business incubation.
The university provides an array of highly ranked graduate programs. Arizona State University offers about 90 undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs, as well as more than a dozen certificate programs through ASU Online. ASU Online’s degree offerings include bachelor’s degrees in art history, business, film, and justice studies. The university also offers master’s degrees in legal studies, nutrition, English, electrical engineering, and more.
Students also can pursue doctoral degrees in behavioral health and leadership and innovation.
ASU Online students have access to enrollment counselors, academic advisers, and success coaches. ASU Online offers six start dates each year.
Online students have flexibility to complete coursework on their own schedule. Some ASU Online courses require specific log-on times, and most have set assignments and deadlines.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Arizona State University as a research university with very high research activity. ASU consistently ranks among the top 20 universities, which don’t have a traditional medical school, for research expenditures.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Arizona State University-Tempe #129 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. Arizona State University also tied for #63 in Top Public Schools and #143 in Best Global Universities. The magazine also listed Arizona State #27 in Best Business Schools.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University) ranked Arizona State University #88. Times Higher Education listed Arizona State University #182 in its World University Rankings 2014–2015, while Forbes ranked the university #140 among Research Universities.
Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business ranked #92 in Bloomberg Business’s 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs list. Princeton Review included Arizona State University in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provides accreditation to Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. Arizona State University also holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Florida State University, Office of Distance Learning
Florida State University (FSU), a sea-grant and space-grant public research university founded in 1851, consists of 16 colleges and more than 100 facilities, centers, facilities, and labs. Florida State University, known for its nationally ranked academic programs, enrolls about 42,000 students in more than 300 programs of study leading to a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.
All the colleges and schools provide graduate degrees. FSU provides combined BA/MA programs. FSU has strong foundations in the sciences, with meteorology, biology, and chemistry ranked among the school’s best programs.
Through the Office of Distance Learning, FSU offers online degrees with courses which follow a semester schedule. Florida State University’s online undergraduate degree programs require students to have completed 60 or more semester hours of transferable credit, including all liberal arts requirements.
Florida State University offers bachelor’s degrees in public safety and security, computer science, criminology, and interdisciplinary social science; nearly 20 master’s degrees such as business administration, communication disorders, criminology, educational leadership/administration, and nurse educator; post-master’s degree programs in educational leadership/administration, and library and information systems; and numerous certificate programs.
FSU offers most online courses in an asynchronous format.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Florida State University as a research university with very high research activity. FSU has over 50 prominent research centers and institutes.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida State University #95 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Florida State #39 in Best Education Schools and #172 in Best Global Universities. Florida State University also tied for #43 in Top Public Schools.
Bloomberg Business ranked Florida State University’s College of Business #85 in its 2014 list of Undergraduate Business School Programs. Forbes ranked Florida State #102 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included FSU among the 2015 Best 379 Colleges.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provided accreditation to Florida State University’s College of Business. Florida State University also holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Drexel University, Drexel Online
Drexel University, a private research university founded in 1891, offers nearly 200 programs leading to a variety of undergraduate, graduate (including doctoral), and professional degrees. Drexel University enrolls about 25,500 students across more than a dozen colleges and schools. Drexel University has one of the nation’s largest cooperative education programs.
Drexel University Online awards nine bachelor’s degrees in business administration, criminology, computing and security technology, and psychology; and about 60 master’s degree programs ranging from communication to systems engineering to cybersecurity.
Drexel Online also offers about 80 certificate programs, as well as doctoral programs in educational leadership and management, health science in rehabilitation sciences, and nursing practice. Drexel University offers some of its degree programs in an accelerated format.
Online students receive instruction from the same faculty and earn the same degrees as on-campus students. Drexel University received the Sloan-C Award for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Drexel University as a research university with high research activity. Drexel University has over $110 million in yearly expenditures for sponsored research projects. The university has traditional research strength in biotechnology, information science, basic science, engineering, and business.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Drexel University #95 in National Universities in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Drexel University #169 in Best Education Schools and #396 in Best Global Universities.
Bloomberg Business ranked Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business #106 among 2014 Undergraduate Business School Programs. Forbes ranked Drexel University #129 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included Drexel in its 2015 Best 379 Colleges list.
The respected Association of Advance College Schools of Business provides accreditation to Drexel University’s Breech School of Business Administration and Economics. Drexel University also holds accreditation from the Middle State Commission on Higher Education.
Oregon State University, OSU Ecampus
Oregon State University (OSU), a public research university, founded in 1868, enrolls more than 30,000 students across a dozen colleges and a graduate school. OSU, a prominent research school, has nationally recognized programs in areas such as agricultural sciences, forestry, fisheries, community health, pharmacy, and wildlife management.
OSU is one of only six educational institutions in the United States with a land-grant, space-grant, and sea-grant designations. OSU also has a sun-grant designation.
Oregon State University, which offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs, is home to the internationally renowned Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology.
Oregon State University offers more than 900 online courses and a host of degree programs through OSU Ecampus. The university’s online offerings include nearly 20 bachelor’s degrees in topics ranging from anthropology to German to sustainability; nine master’s degrees such as executive leadership, counseling, and natural resources; and doctoral degrees in education and counseling. The university also offers certificate programs, as well as chemistry and foreign language courses.
OSU Ecampus allows students to access course materials on their schedule and earn the same degree as on-campus students. Online students have access to a host of student services such as library resources, career services, 24/7 tutoring help, and counseling services.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes Oregon State University as a research university with very high research activity.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Oregon State University #138 in National Universities in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked Oregon State University #106 in Best Education Schools, while the university tied for #70 in Top Public Schools and #250 in Best Global Universities.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014 (provided by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University), ranked Oregon State University 151–200. In addition, Forbes ranked Oregon State University #128 in Research Universities.
The respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business provides accreditation to Oregon State University’s College of Business. Oregon State University also holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
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